Knowledge,practice and factors influencing self-madication among students, a study at HFNMTC,Berekum

Abstract

The study focused on assessing self-medication among students of Holy Family NMTC, Berekum. A cross sectional study design was used to collect in-depth information for the study. The sample population was obtained using a proportionate stratified sampling technique. A total of 253 students were sampled for the study. The data for the study was collected by administering the questionnaire to the participants. The study found that the majority (80%) indicated that drugs used for self-medications are sold directly without prescription whiles only (12%) said they are sold with prescription. Nearly half (48%) of the respondents said label on drugs for self-medication should sometimes be checked followed by 28% who indicated the label should always be checked and 24% said it should never be checked. Majority (88%) of the respondents indicated the place of obtaining drugs used for self-medication to be the commercial pharmacy. Unanimously, all (100%) the respondents indicated headache as the likeliest clinical symptom for them to use unprescribed drug, this was followed by fever (96%), dysmenorrhea (86%), sore throat (58%) and itching (42%).The study recommended there is the need for collaboration between the Food and Drugs Authority, the Pharmacy Council, the public health and community health nurses and the media to sensitise the public on the adverse effects of the extensive use self-medication.The study concluded respondents had adequate knowledge on self-medication. The practice of self-medication was found to be high and the most preferred drug group was antipyretic and analgesics. The leading reasons for self-medication drug use were time saving, easy accessibility and low cost and all the respondents admitted headache to be the clinical symptom that will make it more likely to make them self-medicate